The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 vs Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 measures 41,2 feet overall (2017), giving it roughly 8,8 additional feet of deck space compared to the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 at 32,4 feet (2015). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 tips the scales at 19 698 lbs — 7 844 lbs less than the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 at 11 854 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 tops out at 45 hp. Engine specs for the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 carries 50 gallons versus 21 gallons in the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 caps at 9. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 displaces 19 698 lbs — a 7 844-lb difference over the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 at 11 854 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 5,5 ft and 5,2 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 uses fractional_rig_sloop rigging. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 has a documented auxiliary engine of 45 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 8,0 knots for the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 and 7,3 knots for the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 carries 90 gallons versus 50 gallons on the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 19 698 lbs displacement and 41 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 31 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2015 at 11 854 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.